Professor Francesco Stellacci, Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland

Advancements in Characterization of Nanoparticles and their Application for Developing Countries' Needs

In this talk I will highlight recent progresses in the characterization of gold nanoparticles coated with a binary mixture of dis-like molecules. These advancements will include true high resolution images as well as diffraction and spectroscopic analysis. Particles that show stripe-like domains as well as particles with Janus arrangements will be presented. These particles have shown unique properties ranging from non-monotonic dependence on composition of the solubility and the interfacial energy, as well as unique molecular recognition properties. A subclass of these particles has shown the ability to cross cell membranes in an energy independent way. The use of these particles to stabilise vaccines and to fight viral infections will be highlighted.